Crowley's Ridge Black Powder Club

Cheyenne Cahee displays some of her weaving, beading and basket weaving crafts at the encampment south of Bloomfield on Highway 25. The event takes place Friday and Saturday.

Stepping back into Early America

If the hustle and bustle of the 21st Century is getting you down, you have a chance this weekend to take a quick trip into the past. A short drive to Bloomfield, Missouri will take you back to the late 1800's, when life was a lot more simple and basic than it is now.

Once a year, the empty field south of Bloomfield becomes a time machine, where curious amateur history buffs can satisfy their desire to walk in the past. Several like-minded groups gather to recreate those olden times.

This weekend, the Crowley's Ridge Black Powder Club is hosting a camp which features homespun crafts and demonstrations involving primitive archery, music, blacksmithing and tomahawk throwing.

I was there yesterday and struck up a conversation with a charming young lady named Cheyenne Cahee, who came from Melbourne, Arkansas with her family, all of whom are a part of this history project. While Cheyenne uses her talents to bead, weave, and crochet, her brother works in the blacksmith shop next door, and her mother and sister make period clothes and work in the food tent.

Since the competitions don't start until today (Saturday, Oct. 1), I spent my time yesterday browsing through the Rawhide Trading Company tent, where I was fascinated by Cheyenne's hand-woven pine needle baskets. I bought a basket, a coral bead choker, and an Early American cream pitcher.

It's a relaxing, easy-going lifestyle. I would enjoy just sitting in an old rocker and absorbing the atmosphere and the sunshine.

Today we're going for breakfast (between 7 and 9 a.m.), and we're hoping to see the primitive archery contest, before we head on north to Marble Hill's Fall Festival. A trip south would take you to the Sikeston Cotton Carnival.

Fall is a busy, fun time of year in the Heartland, folks! Get out and enjoy this gorgeous weather! Could yesterday's sky have been any more BLUE??

This would be the perfect day to make the trip to Bloomfield. The camp is located just east of the Missouri Veterans Cemetery on Highway 25.

-- Posted by Dexterite1 on Sat, Oct 1, 2011, at 7:02 AM

Bluest skies in quite a few months, MD, I was down near Steele, sadly for my son's funeral, he had passed away from cancer, but the weather was a tribute to what we have down home, and I haven't seen so much cotton planted since I was in grade school!!! Absolutely glorious time of the year, and I know he would have loved it as much as I did. Hope you had a fine weekend, we love our country-time-of-the-year!!! Regards, kkr

-- Posted by kkcaver47 on Sun, Oct 2, 2011, at 10:55 PM

Sorry to hear about your son, kk. That's a sad reason to make the trip home.

The weekend was gorgeous! My friend and I started our Saturday off at the rendezvous--then we went to the Marble Hill festival--then to Marquand for Pioneer Days and a delicious lunch at the Durso Winery and Bistro. Wonderful Day! I hate for the weekend to end!

This time of year doesn't last long enough!

-- Posted by Madeline1 on Mon, Oct 3, 2011, at 7:04 AM

I always enjoyed spring time and early fall.I have many fond memories as a child of spring time events. The best were events held in the fall.

Madeline (Giles) DeJournett is the Advance writer for the North Stoddard Countian. A retired high school English/history teacher, she spent 32 years teaching in 5 schools in Missouri and Alaska. These days, she lives quietly with a menagerie of wild and domestic animals on 52 secluded acres in the remote Tillman hills south of Advance. She graduated from Dexter High School in 1960 and Southeast Missouri State in 1964. She can be contacted at advancensc@sbcglobal.net or by phone at 573-722-5322.